The program strives to offer knowledge, skills, and values essential to legal professionals.
Students in each class will demonstrate familiarity with specialized legal terms
and phrases used in legal practice, exhibit working knowledge of the core legal areas,
exhibit professional appearances and demeanors, and exhibit the ability to assist
with all stages of trial preparation.

Legal assistants, also known as paralegals, who work under the supervision of a licensed
attorney, can perform many of the day-to-day tasks of the law office, governmental
agency, legal aid clinic, or corporate legal department. They assist the attorney
in the preparation of legal documents, client interviews, research and investigation,
trial preparation, and many other tasks. Some legal assistants prefer working in
small, solo practices, where they can function as legal secretary, paralegal and administrative
assistant for a single lawyer, while others work more autonomously as specialists
in probate, criminal law, family law, or real estate, in larger firms and governmental
offices. Entry level salaries vary based on location and legal specialty area, and
raises and bonuses are common for the legal assistant whose efforts help makes a profit
for the firm.

Students who undertake the degree program will qualify to take the voluntary Certified
Legal Assistant exam offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants. Paralegal
courses have also served as an advance look at the profession for those students preparing
for law school.

***Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except when permitted
by law.

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